Highlights Local

Give the Gift of Warmth
Support the Warming Center during Erie Gives Aug 11, 2015

It’s still summer, but winter is waiting…

Please help us make sure that no one is left out in the cold this year by supporting the Warming Center at Mental Health Association during:

ERIE GIVES

Tuesday August 11

8:00AM to 8:00PM

On this day only, your gift to the Warming Center at Mental Health Association is enhanced by a pro-rated match from the Erie Community Foundation* and will be used directly for food, supplies and other comforts necessary to keep Erie’s most vulnerable safe and secure on nights when the temperature plummets to 25 degrees or below. Click here to learn more.

Please set a reminder for August 11th to visit www.eriegives.org. Giving is easy, confidential and a wonderful way to support the entire Erie non-profit community.

Members of the MHANP community including Charles Gauley, Diana Ames, and Bill Grove were invited to a presentation at the Governor's residence in Harrisburg about the impact of the current budget impasse on human services providers and their consumers. The importance of insisting that legislators reconvene to negotiate a budget with the Governor that supports both human services and education was stressed. Human services providers were urged to do whatever possible to weather any protracted impasse rather than accept a budget that would continue to underfund important services for vulnerable populations. Members of the General Assembly, the Senate and the governor's staff were present to hear concerns, offer encouragement and address questions. MHA's Diana Ames stressed the importance and power of meaningfully engaging human service consumers to advocate on their own behalf.

MHA consumers have been meeting with local state legislators to tell their stories and express their concerns. They are also engaging in local and statewide efforts to address the issues of adequate funding for Human Services in this year's state budget.

MHA Recieves Grant To Address Stigma

The Non-Profit Partnership (NPP) awarded a Capacity Building Grant to assist MHA in promoting a more positive image of mental health consumers to the public. MHA will use this $5,000 grant to collect a variety of recovery stories from local mental health consumers and then identify low or no cost ways of getting those stories before the public. Video, print and oral presentations will be gathered.

This is an exciting opportunity for MHA and we already have several consumers who are preparing to help gather the stories and another group interested in telling their stories. Be looking for our media campaign in 2015.

Thanks NPP for the financial support.

MHANP Annual Reportfor 2013 - 2014 released

A quick guide to some housing resourcesfor people experiencing homelessness

Warming Center at MHA

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The Warming Center at MHA opens its doors whenever the overnight temperature will be 25 degrees or less, accepting anyone who needs to come in from the cold during overnight hours. All are welcome while they abide by basic rules of mutual respect. MHA provides shelter, safety, food, coffee, activities, conversation, support, and a place to "nap" for those needing to rest. Click on Icon just above this column.

Erie County Care Management Homeless Case Management814.528.0600

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Best to call early in the morning or late afternoon or most likely you will need to leave a message and number for them to call back. They can meet with you at their office or somewhere in the community. Homeless Case Management can be a good resource way to help someone with a mental health need find a place to live. Homeless case managers have expertise and resources others may not have. The case managers are in the emergency shelters almost every day.

United Methodist Alliance Project Hope814.456.5670

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Project Hope has very active outreach workers. They can meet with you in the community. Project Hope workers often can meet with people in the evenings as well as the daytime. Project Hope has resources others may not.

Over-flow shelter information814.459.5765

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The over-flow shelter location rotates through the community. Call to find the location and times it is open.

Several college seniors from universities within the tri state area have spent a semester at the MHA. We have asked our recent interns to express their impression of their experience with us.

Highlights Regional

Second Chance Computers Graduates 3 More

On June 25th, Second Chance Computers graduation ceremonies were held at the MHA for Michael Harrison, Yolanda Moreno and Paul Scalf. These mental health consumers completed the 5 week course and attained basic proficiency in computer use. Each graduate was able to take home the used laptop computer on which they trained. Congratulations to each of these individuals and welcome to 21st century communications. Special thanks go out to Mary Beth Sackett who has been volunteering as instructor for the course.

Another Second Chance Computer class is now underway. Paul Scalf is helping teach this next group of computer novices. Thanks Paul.

September is National Recovery Month

The 2015 Recovery Month theme, "Join the Voices for Recovery: Visible, Vocal, Valuable", highlights the value of peer support by educating, mentoring and helping others. The theme invites individuals in recovery and their support systems to be catalysts and active change-agents in communities, and in civic and advocacy engagements. It encourages individuals to start conversations about the prevention, treatment and recovery of behavioral health conditions at earlier stages of life. (from www.recoverymonth.gov).

Compassionate Actions Project (CAP)Food Pantry

Compassionate Actions Project Food Pantry at the Mental Health Association opened July 22, 2014. Since we opened we have offered a healthful selection of foods to approximately 40 to 50 MHA members each month. Simple and tasty recipes and free literature are also offered at the CAP Food Pantry!

We appreciate the kind and caring people who volunteer their time to make the CAP Food Pantry at MHA possible. Thank-you to all the wonderful people that help keep the food pantry running smoothly each month!

Our food pantry's non-refrigerated foods are carefully selected each month. In keeping within our organization's mission we appreciate only plant based food donations - please see the CAP website for foods that we offer.

On the food pantry day (usually the 4th Tuesday of the month), we ask that you please consider donating fresh produce! Fresh vegetables and fruits are always appreciated if donated before 12:30 PM on the day we distribute food.

Community Care, Erie County, Meeting Schedule

Community Care, a nonprofit managed care organization, announces the schedule for the upcomming advisory meetings.